How Many Tablespoons Are in a Cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. So 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, and 1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon.
Cups to tablespoons
| 1/8 cup | 2 tablespoons |
|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon |
| 3/8 cup | 6 tablespoons |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons |
Good to know
Measuring a full cup with a tablespoon is fine in a pinch, but level each spoonful with the back of a knife — heaped tablespoons can add 25% or more without you noticing, which matters a lot in baking.
The 1/3 cup is the awkward one: it is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (5.33 tablespoons), not a clean number. When halving a recipe that calls for 2/3 cup, measure 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons.
These are US measures. An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (4 teaspoons), so Australian recipes need only 12.5 of their tablespoons per US cup — one more reason to check where a recipe was written.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons are in 1/4 cup?
There are 4 tablespoons in 1/4 US cup.
How many tablespoons are in 1/3 cup?
1/3 cup equals 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (about 5.33 tablespoons).
How many tablespoons are in 1/2 cup?
There are 8 tablespoons in 1/2 US cup.
Does 4 tablespoons equal 1/4 cup?
Yes — 4 level tablespoons equal exactly 1/4 US cup.
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